Retainer member for a picture frame

ABSTRACT

A picture frame assembly includes a body having a recess for receiving an item for display and backing member to be positioned behind the item to retain the item within the recess. The retainer includes a head portion having one or more engagement members projecting from a surface thereof and a tail portion extending from the head portion that is pliable with respect to the head portion and able to be moved between a first position and a second position with respect to the head portion. The engagement members of the head portion engage with a surface of the body of the picture frame assembly, so that when the tail portion is in the first position, the tail portion does not substantially extend into the recess of the picture frame assembly to enable placement of the backing member within the recess. When the tail portion is in the second position, the tail portion extends at least partially across the recess to engage a rear surface of the backing member to securely retain the backing member in position within the recess.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2012901018 filed 14 Mar. 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a retainer device for a picture frame assembly, and in particular, to a retainer device for a picture frame assembly that assists in holding a backing of a picture frame in position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Picture frame assemblies come in a variety of types and sizes. Picture frames generally comprise a frame or border having a recess within which is received a picture, such as a photograph. The frame essentially forms a dual purpose, namely to provide an aesthetic border around the picture and to provide a structure to hold and retain the picture in a position for display.

Most picture frame assemblies generally comprise a rigid body having a central recess into which the picture is received. A window region is generally provided in the body of the frame assembly that extends over the recess to provide a means for viewing the picture. To provide an enclosed setting, the window may have a glass or plastic cover to protect the picture positioned underneath. A backing member in the form of a piece of plywood or similar material is located within the recess to be positioned at the rear of the picture when the picture is located within the frame assembly. The backing member is generally shaped to conform to the shape of the recess so that the backing member acts to sandwich the picture between the backing member and the frame/glass, so that it is retained in position for viewing.

In order to keep the backing member in position, a variety of retainer devices have been proposed. Generally the retaining elements are in the form of metal pins or nails that are inserted into the body of the frame assembly so as to extend into the recess behind the backing member. The pins then act to engage with the rear of the backing member so as to prevent it from falling out of the recess. Typically, the retaining members are inserted into the body of the frame assembly by way of tool such as a staple gun or the like, such that the pin penetrates the body a desired depth, typically around 6-7 mm, to prevent the pin inadvertently falling out of the frame assembly.

Whilst existing retaining members of the type described above have proven adequate in retaining a backing member of a picture frame assembly in position, such devices cannot be used in all situations, especially where the frame assembly is thin and/or the material of the frame is brittle. In such situations, the act of inserting the pin into the body of the frame for use may result in the pin penetrating through the walls and damaging the frame assembly, which is highly undesirable.

Thus, there is a need to provide a retainer device for a picture frame assembly that is capable of retaining a backing of a picture frame assembly in position, and which can be used in variety of applications, especially those applications where the walls of the picture frame assembly are thin and easily damaged by conventional retainer members.

The above references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art. In particular, the above prior art discussion does not relate to what is commonly or well known by the person skilled in the art, but assists in the understanding of the inventive step of the present invention of which the identification of pertinent prior art proposals is but one part.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

The invention according to one or more aspects is as defined in the independent claims. Some optional and/or preferred features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention there is provided a retainer device for a picture frame assembly, the picture frame assembly having a body with a recess for receiving an item for display and a backing member configured to be positioned behind said item to retain the item within the recess, the retainer device comprising:

-   -   a head portion having one or more engagement members projecting         from a surface thereof; and     -   a tail portion extending from the head portion and configured to         be pliable with respect to the head portion so as to be movable         between a first position and a second position with respect to         the head portion;     -   wherein the one or more engagement members of the head portion         are configured to engage with a surface of the body of the         picture frame assembly such that when the tail portion is in the         first position the tail portion does not substantially extend         into the recess of the picture frame assembly to enable         placement of the backing member within the recess and when the         tail portion is in the second position, the tail portion extends         at least partially across the recess to engage a rear surface of         the backing member to securely retain the backing member in         position within the recess.

In an embodiment, the one or more engagement members are teeth are formed on an underside of the head portion and are configured to penetrate into the body upon application of a force to the head portion. The one or more teeth may have a length of approximately 2 mm.

The retainer device may be mounted to extend substantially perpendicular to a rebate formed in the body.

A weakened region may be formed in the elongate tail portion adjacent the head portion to facilitate bending movement of the elongate tail portion with regard to the head portion.

The weakened region may be formed by forming an elongate slot through the elongate tail portion at the junction where the head portion and the elongate tail portion meet.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides A picture frame comprising:

-   -   a body having a recess formed therein for receiving an item for         display, the recess having a rebate formed around a periphery         thereof;     -   a backing member configured to be received within said rebate so         as to be positioned behind the item for display; and     -   a plurality of retaining devices mountable to a wall of the body         located within the rebate, each retaining device having a head         portion configured to engage with the wall of the body and a         tail portion pliably connected to the head portion, the tail         portion being movable with respect to the head portion between a         first position and at least a second position, such that when         the tail portion is in the first position it does not         substantially extend into the recess to enable the backing         member to be received within said rebate, and when the tail         portion is in the second position, the tail portion extends at         least partially across the recess to engage a rear surface of         the backing member to securely retain the backing member in         position within the rebate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be better understood from the following non-limiting description of preferred embodiments, in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a picture frame assembly employing the retainer device of the present invention with a backing member removed;

FIG. 2 is the rear view of the picture frame assembly of FIG. 1, with the backing member positioned and retained in place by the retainer devices;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a section of the picture frame assembly of FIG. 1, showing the manner in which the retainer device of the present invention is secured to the picture frame assembly, prior to use;

FIG. 4 is a top cross-sectional view of the arrangement of the picture frame assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top cross-sectional view of the picture frame assembly of FIG. 3, showing the manner in which the retainer device functions to retain the backing member in place;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a retainer device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the retainer device of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention.

The present invention will be described below in relation to a conventional picture frame assembly of the type having a frame body defining a central recess into which a picture, such as a photograph or the like is received and positioned for display. The recess has a rebate formed about the perimeter thereof, which acts as a means for receiving a backing member to retain the picture in position. In order to complete the assembly, a glass panel or window is located in the recess to provide a means for viewing the picture from a front surface of the picture frame assembly. It will be appreciated that the present invention could equally be applied to a variety of different types of picture frame assemblies, and still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a picture frame assembly 10 employing the retainer device 20 of the present invention is shown. As alluded to above, the picture frame assembly 10 comprises a substantially rectangular body 12 having a central recess 13 formed therein. In the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the recess is shown as being substantially rectangular; however, other shaped recesses 13 and bodies 12 are also envisaged.

Around an outer rear edge of the recess 13, there is provided a rebate 14. The rebate 14 in the form of a stepped edge that defines a ledge positioned below the surface of the rear of the body 12. A glass panel 16 is configured to be received within the recess 13 such that it is supported at its periphery by the rebate 14. The glass panel 16 acts as a window or viewing area through which a picture (not shown) can be viewed when the picture frame assembly 10 is in an upright manner.

The picture (not shown) may be a print or photograph having a visual display formed on a surface thereof. The picture is typically placed on the glass panel 16 such that the visual display is against the glass panel and centred as desired by a user. Once positioned in such a manner, a backing member 15 is positioned within the recess 13 so as to be located behind the picture. The backing member 15 has a shape that substantially conforms to the recess 13 and functions to hold the picture in position against the glass panel 16.

In order to retain the backing member 15 in position within the recess 13, a plurality of retainer devices 20 are provided. The retainer devices 20 are mounted to an inside wall of the body 12 at predetermined positions about the recess 13. In the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, eight retainer devices 20 are provided. However, it will be appreciated that the position and number of retainer devices 20 required to hold the backing member 15 in position will vary depending upon the specific requirements and configuration of the picture frame assembly 10.

An embodiment of a retainer device in accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention is shown in isolation in FIGS. 6 and 7. The device 20 generally comprises a head portion 22 and a tail portion 24. The head portion 22 has a plurality of teeth 23 that project from an underside thereof. The teeth 23 extend from the head portion 22 and taper towards a sharp point. The teeth each have sufficient rigidity to penetrate the body 12 of the picture frame assembly 10.

In order to fix the device 20 in position, the device 20 is positioned against the wall of the body 12 and a force is applied thereto, by way of a hammer, press or the like, to cause the teeth 23 to penetrate into the body 12. Each of the teeth 23 has a length of approximately 2 mm such that the device 20 can be used in applications where the wall of the body 12 is very thin. In order to facilitate secure engagement between the device 20 and the body 12, the teeth 23 may be configured so as to diverge away from each other, such that when the teeth penetrate the body 12 a degree of lateral force is created between the teeth 23.

The device 20 is typically made from a metal such as an steel or the like, and the teeth may be formed by punching a hole 21 in the head portion 22. In this regard, the teeth 23 are formed as a residual of the punching process. However, it will be appreciated that the teeth may be formed by a variety of other means and still fall within the scope of the present invention.

The tail portion 24 extends from the head portion 22 and has a length substantially greater than the length of the head portion 22. In a preferred form, the tail portion has a length of approximately 9.5 mm and the head portion 22 has a length of approximately 5.5 mm. A slot 25 is formed in the tail portion 24 at a region proximal the head portion to provide a region of reduced strength at or adjacent to the junction between the head portion 22 and the tail portion 24. The region of reduced strength enables the tail portion 24 to be bent about axis A-A with respect to the head portion, in a manner to be described in more detail below.

Referring to FIG. 3, an enlarged portion of the body 12 of the picture frame assembly 10 of FIG. 1 is shown. The body 12 has a front surface 12 a, which represents the front of the picture frame assembly 10. The rebate 14 is located substantially parallel to the front surface 12 a and an inner wall 12 b extends from the rebate 14 to the rear of the picture frame assembly 10, as shown. The retainer device 20 is mounted to the inner wall 12 b of the body 12, such that the head portion 22 is positioned adjacent the rebate 14 and the tail portion 24 extends towards the rear of the picture frame assembly, so as to be substantially parallel with the inner wall 12 b and perpendicular to the rebate 14, as is shown in FIG. 4.

This arrangement is shown in FIG. 1. When the retainer devices 20 are in this configuration, the retainer devices 20 do not substantially extend into the recess 13. This enables the glass panel 16, picture and backing member 15 to be positioned within the recess 13 such that they are supported on the rebate 14.

As is shown in FIG. 5, in order to secure the backing member 15 in position within the recess 13, the tail portion 24 of the retainer device 20 is bent through approximately 90° so as to be in contact with the rear of the backing member 15. The backing member is thus prevented from being removed from the recess 13 by the tail portion 24 of the retainer device 20, which ensures that the backing member 15, picture and glass panel 16 are sandwiched in position between the rebate 14 and the plurality of retainer devices 20.

It will be appreciated that the retainer device 20 of the present invention can be employed without the need for dedicated application devices and stapler guns and can be merely press fitted into position on the frame body 12. Due to the nature of the teeth provided on the retainer device the device can be employed in situations where the material of the frame body is made from a thin material, without fear of damage to the structure of the frame assembly. Thus, the retainer device of the present invention provides a simple yet effective alternative to conventional nail and pin arrangements used for retaining a backing of a picture frame in position.

Throughout the specification and claims the word “comprise” and its derivatives are intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. That is, the word “comprise” and its derivatives will be taken to indicate the inclusion of not only the listed components, steps or features that it directly references, but also other components, steps or features not specifically listed, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise.

Orientational terms used in the specification and claims such as vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, upper and lower are to be interpreted as relational and are based on the premise that the component, item, article, apparatus, device or instrument will usually be considered in a particular orientation, typically with the retainer device uppermost.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the methods of the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A retainer for a picture frame assembly, the picture frame assembly having a body with a recess for receiving an item for display and a backing member configured to be positioned behind said item to retain the item within the recess, the retainer comprising: a head portion having one or more engagement members projecting from a surface thereof; and a tail portion extending from the head portion and configured to be pliable with respect to the head portion so as to be movable from a first position that is substantially coplanar with the head portion to a second position that is outside of the plane of the head portion; wherein the head portion is mounted to the body adjacent the recess by the one or more engagement members with the tail portion in the first position to facilitate placement of the item and backing member within the recess the tail portion is then movable to the second position to at least partially extend across the recess and engage a rear surface of the backing member to securely retain the backing member in position within the recess.
 2. A retainer according to claim 1, wherein the one or more engagement members are teeth formed on an underside of the head portion and are configured to penetrate into the body upon application of a force to the head portion.
 3. A retainer according to claim 2, wherein the one or more teeth have a length of approximately 2 mm.
 4. A retainer according to claim 1, wherein the head portion is mounted to extend substantially perpendicular to a rebate formed in the body.
 5. A retainer according to claim 1, wherein a weakened region is formed in the tail portion adjacent the head portion to facilitate bending movement of the tail portion from the first position to the second position.
 6. A retainer according to claim 5, wherein the weakened region is formed by forming an elongate slot through the elongate tail portion adjacent a junction between the head portion and the tail portion.
 7. A method for using a retainer for a picture frame assembly, the picture frame assembly having a body with a recess having a rebate formed around a periphery thereof, for receiving an item for display and a backing member configured to be positioned behind said item to retain the item within the recess, the retainer for the picture frame assembly including: a head portion having one or more engagement members projecting from a surface thereof; and, a tail portion extending from the head portion and configured to be pliable with respect to the head portion so as to be movable from a first position that is substantially coplanar with the head portion to a second position that is outside of the plane of the head portion; wherein the head portion is mounted to the body adjacent the recess by the one or more engagement members with the tail portion in the first position to facilitate placement of the item and backing member within the recess the tail portion is then movable to the second position to at least partially extend across the recess and engage a rear surface of the backing member to securely retain the backing member in position within the recess, said method for using said retainer for the picture frame assembly comprising the steps of: mounting the head portion of the retainer to the surface of the body; placing the item for display and the backing member within the recess so that the item for display is able to be viewed within the picture frame assembly; and, moving the tail portion of the retainer member to a second position to at least partially extend across the recess and engage a rear surface of the backing member to securely retain the backing member in position within the recess.
 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the step of mounting the head portion of the retainer to the surface of the body comprises mounting the head portion of the retainer to a wall of the recess, such that the head portion and the tail portion of the retainer extend substantially perpendicular to the rebate.
 9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the step of mounting the head portion of the retainer to the surface of the body comprises pressing the head portion against the surface of the body such that the engagement members penetrate the surface of the body to securely retain the retainer in position.
 10. A method according to claim 7, wherein the step of moving the tail portion of the retainer member to the second position comprises bending the tail portion through an arc of substantially 90° with respect to the head portion.
 11. A picture frame comprising: a body having a recess formed therein for receiving an item for display, the recess having a rebate formed around a periphery thereof; a backing member configured to be received within said rebate so as to be positioned behind the item for display; and a plurality of retaining members mountable to a wall of the body located within the rebate, each retaining member having a head portion configured to engage with the wall of the body and a tail portion pliably connected to the head portion, the tail portion being movable with respect to the head portion from a first position that is substantially coplanar with the head portion to at least a second position that is outside of the plane of the head portion, wherein, retaining member is mounted to the wall of the body and the tail portion is in the first position, the item for display and the backing member are able to be received within the recess, and when the tail portion is moved to the at least second position, the tail portion extends at least partially across the recess to engage a rear surface of the backing member to securely retain the backing member in position within the recess. 